Littleton is a great place for families, with top-rated schools, parks, and historic downtown. Between Highlands Ranch and Lakewood, Littleton is only about 10 miles from Denver but maintains a very different feel. Living in Littleton is generally safe but traffic accidents can still be a danger for drivers, visitors, cyclists, and pedestrians. Most of these accidents are avoidable and caused by inattentive driving.
Ride-hailing services like Lyft and Uber, are convenient and provide an alternative to driving or taking the bus. However, rideshare vehicles may cause accidents. In some cases, rideshare drivers may be more distracted than other drivers because of their need to use their phones to complete the ride.
If you were injured in an accident while using Lyft or Uber in Littleton, talk to a rideshare accident lawyer about your rights. The attorneys at Denver Legal Eagles can investigate your accident and work to get you the maximum compensation after an injury accident in Littleton, Boulder, or the greater Denver area. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Using Lyft and Uber in Littleton
Most residents of Littleton have a car or two in their driveway or garage. However, some people have to rely on other modes of transportation and public transit may not be an option. Individuals with cars may also want to go out and leave the car behind to avoid parking expenses or traffic.
Dining and Drinking in Historic Downtown Littleton
Historic downtown Littleton is small but offers a number of options for residents or visitors for shopping, dining, and drinks. For residents, the downtown area is within a short distance but may be too far to walk and visitors may want to enjoy a few drinks before going home. Options include breweries like Jackass Hill, distilleries like Rocker Spirits, and wine bars. Even a couple of drinks may impair driving abilities so a Lyft or Uber is a good option to get home safely.
Out for an Event in Denver
Littleton offers most of what residents need on a regular basis but people in Littleton may need to venture out to Denver occasionally for bigger events, like Broncos football, Nuggets games, or Colorado Rockies games. Denver brings bigger names for music concerts and has the Colorado Symphony. Art lovers may want to attend one of the wine tasting events or dinners at the Denver Art Museum. Attending an event where drinking is involved will require limiting drinks, a designated driver, or opting for a Lyft or Uber ride to get home without getting stopped for a DUI.
Ride to the Airport from Littleton
Getting a ride to the airport can be a tough sell when you have a 6 a.m. flight. Driving and parking can be a good option for short trips but for longer trips, the parking costs add up. Even economy parking is $17 a day at DIA (down to $15/day after the 3rd day). An Uber or Lyft ride to the airport may be about $50 each way, which is still less expensive than parking for a week or more.
Using the Lyft or Uber App and Mapping is Distracting
There are some inherent risks for Colorado rideshare drivers. The rideshare companies like to pretend like their drivers are not distracted while using the rideshare apps. However, anyone who has ever ridden in an Uber or Lyft knows that the drivers regularly are using the apps while driving. Drivers have to use the app multiple times to complete a ride, including:
- Going active on the app,
- Accepting a fare,
- Navigating to the pick-up point,
- Starting the ride,
- Navigating to the drop-off, and
- Completing the ride.
Additionally, the driver may have a number of other distractions, including using multiple apps during the ride for mapping, avoiding traffic, playing music, or talking on the phone. Anything that takes the driver's attention away from the road, visually, physically, or mentally, can increase the risk of an accident.
Pick-Ups and Drop-Offs Can Be Dangerous for Pedestrians and Cyclists
Picking up a passenger or dropping them off at their home is usually not a problem because there may be ample parking space and a driveway. However, pick-ups and drop-offs in downtown or areas with heavy pedestrian traffic can be more dangerous. Uber or Lyft drivers may not have a clear space to pull over and stop and they may stop in the road, blocking other drivers or even opening the door into the bike lane, dooring a cyclist and causing injury.
Lyft and Uber drivers have a financial incentive to be fast and complete as many rides as possible in a short time. There are even bonuses for doing higher numbers of rides in a short amount of time, creating an incentive to speed or violate traffic laws. In smaller communities like Littleton, this can increase the risk of injury to children or pedestrians.
Reporting a Rideshare Accident in Littleton
Rideshare drivers who are involved in an accident are required to report the accident to the state, the rideshare company, and their insurance company. Under Colorado Statute 42-4-1606, all vehicle accidents must be reported, even minor accidents. If the accident involves an injury, a suspected drunk driver, or a vehicle is not driveable, the police may respond to the accident. For an accident in and around Littleton, the responding officers may include:
Rideshare drivers are also required to report the accident to the rideshare company and their insurance company. If a passenger is injured in a rideshare accident, Uber and Lyft want the passenger to contact the rideshare company. However, you may also want to contact an experienced rideshare accident lawyer to know what to expect before trying to get damages from the rideshare company.
Emergency Medical Care After a Littleton Rideshare Accident
If you need medical attention after a rideshare accident, call 9-1-1. Some injuries, including neck and back injuries or head and brain injuries, can have delayed symptoms. The injury victim may feel okay after the accident but experience symptoms hours or even days later, including pain, loss of sensation, memory loss, or limited range of motion. If there is any risk of injury, seek medical attention.
Some of the emergency departments or urgent care facilities near Littleton include:
- Littleton Adventist Hospital ER
- Children's Hospital Colorado ER, South Campus in Highlands Ranch
- Swedish Medical Center ER in Englewood
Injured After a Lyft or Uber Ride in Littleton
If you were injured in a Lyft or Uber accident in Littleton as a driver, passenger, or pedestrian, contact accidentdenver.com. Our experienced rideshare accident attorneys understand how the rideshare companies work and will fight to get the maximum compensation available. Contact us today for a free consultation.